UN Agency Reports Almost All Gaza Residents Need Shelter Amid El Niño Threat

The UN migration agency, IOM, reported on Friday that almost all of Gaza's population requires tents or shelter assistance ahead of winter.

The El Niño weather phenomenon is expected to bring heavier rainfall, which could further weaken unsafe buildings and cause flooding due to the enclave's heavily damaged drainage systems. The UN weather agency suggests this El Niño could be the strongest ever. Approximately 2 million people in Gaza, largely devastated by the war launched by Israel in response to Hamas' assault in October 2023, need assistance.

Only about 17% of the needs for winter shelter supplies have been met by humanitarian actors. IOM Director-General Amy Pope stated that constraints by Israeli authorities are making it difficult for agencies to scale up their responses. Some 8,600 emergency shelter kits, which include wood, a tarpaulin, and basic materials, have not been allowed into Gaza by Israeli authorities, who determined them as dual-use items.

The IOM has been able to bring in some tarpaulins and tents, but these are insufficient for the current scale of need in Gaza. More than half of all existing tents and makeshift shelters in the enclave are in poor condition and require replacement. There are few alternatives for shelter, as war-damaged buildings pose safety risks.

More than 3,600 structures were identified in August as dangerous and at risk of collapse. Around 1.8 million people are living in displacement sites, with most located in flood-risk areas. Israel cites security concerns for its curbs on Gaza, while the IOM emphasizes the need for families to face winter in safety and dignity. The IOM warns that the current scale of aid is not enough to meet the shelter needs of Gaza's population, and the entry of essential emergency shelter kits remains restricted.